County Commissioner Dennis Thornsberry said Routh has been a good employee.

“He’s done everything; he’s just somebody who could do everything but run a road grader, whatever job could be done,” Thornsberry said. “If you needed something welded or fixed, the mechanical part of it, he could do it. He was just a good hand.”

Ransdall asked Thornsberry if he’ll be hiring a new road worker or leaving that duty for his successor, Ricky Zweerink, who will take office on Jan. 1. Thornsberry said he’ll defer to Zweerink and noted that the job opening must first be posted in the eastern and western district road sheds to see if anyone wants it before it’s offered to the public.

Most vacancies in the past have been filled internally, Thornsberry said, often by transfers into his district.

“I’ve never hired one in eight years; I wouldn’t know how to do it,” Thornsberry said. “They’ve all transferred to my side.”